Aerial surveys document ocean debris around Hawaii

HONOLULU (AP) -- State officials say a study of the eight main Hawaiian Islands shows that ocean debris regularly accumulates around the archipelago, and that most of it is not linked to the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

The aerial survey shows that much of the debris that accumulates on the shores of Hawaii is from fishing gear and plastics discarded locally.

Officials say debris accumulates in hot spots around the islands, mostly on the north and east shores, where ocean currents deposit the trash. The island of Niihau had the most debris in the state, and Oahu had the least.

The survey was paid for by the Ministry of Environment of Japan using the Japan Tsunami Gift Fund, officials with the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources said in statement Tuesday.